Volunteers needed for CNIB

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind has put out an open call for volunteers to spend a couple hours a week helping people with vision loss in their community.

The organization is looking for volunteers to provide regular one-on-one assistance and companionship for a person who is blind or partially sighted in various parts of the province, including Dartmouth, Halifax, Lower Sackville, Spryfield, Windsor and Wolfville.

“Basically they’re there to be someone’s eyes for a couple hours a week,” said Jeff deViller, volunteer services coordinator with CNIB. “A lot of our clients are very independent and can do anything a sighted person can do, but there’s a lot of things we take for granted that’s just a little easier to have someone there.”

Volunteers are asked to provide help with errands, reading and walking. Sometimes it’s more about spending time with someone. deViller says he’s matched people up to play the ukulele together and has another who helps organize a record collection with braille writing.

“It’s great for introverts because you get to know the person one-on-one rather than in a big group,” he says. “It’s also great for extroverts who want to get to know someone.”

“Overall it’s very fun.”

Nine of 10 CNIB clients have some level of vision.

People are matched up based on three criteria: how far they would have to travel to meet up, interests and hobbies and what the volunteer is interested in helping with.

“I hear very positive things about the program,” said deViller. “People feel like it’s not a job.”

In total, there are 30 people in mainland Nova Scotia looking for volunteers. The CNIB currently has 75 matches across Nova Scotia. deViller says the majority of those matches have continued, but the need for the program is growing.

“We’re suddenly in this place where we would really like to have some more volunteers,” he adds.

Volunteers will have training sessions in Halifax on March 17. A training session in Wolfville has been scheduled for March 16.

If interested, call 1-800-563-2642 and ask for Jeff deViller.